On May 16, 1933, Sammie Forbes was born at home, on the family farm located on Shop Springs Road in Wilson County. He was the only son born to Ebb and Maude (Merinda) Tucker Forbes. The log cabin that Sammie was born in was relocated to the Fiddler’s Grove Historic Village in 1992. Sammie began school at the age of four and attended Shop Springs School first through eighth grades. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1950. He was an active member of FFA, 4-H, and he proudly played high school football. Sammie began farming early in life. He raised a variety of livestock which included both beef and dairy cattle, horses, mules, chickens, turkeys, goats, sheep and hogs. Tobacco was grown; but the primary focus of the farm was growing produce. When not in school, to financially help his parents, he went to work for his Uncles in the food concession and meat business.
In the 1960s, Sammie purchased the family farm from his parents where he continued to farm. In 1953, Sammie married Edna Gannon from the Norene community and they began married life living with Sammie’s parents. Shortly afterwards, they purchased a house on State Highway 26 (now known as State Highway 70 East, Sparta Pike). Unbeknownst to them at the time, this purchase would prove to be one of the most valuable decisions in Sammie’s life. At the Sparta Pike location, in 1963, Sammie began his Shop Springs produce stand; now known as Shop Springs Farms. Sammie became known as "The Tomato Man" to all his roadside customers. He earned that name due to his outstanding ability to grow an excellent and early tomato crop as well as other garden produce. He ran his roadside Farmer’s Market for 52 years before handing it over to the next generation in 2015. Sammie became the owner of the family’s food concession and part-owner of the family’s Tucker’s Sausage meat business. He would sell his own home-grown farm products through these two businesses.
Sammie was a "Master" salesman and promoter. Even though Sammie was in many businesses, if "Occupation" was asked, he always answered "Farmer"; his proudest achievement. As an adult, he was active in his community. Sammie was a member and a past President of the Lebanon High School Parent-back Club. He coached several Lion’s Club Babe Ruth baseball teams and was an avid fan and supporter of his children’s and grandchildren’s sports teams, especially Watertown football. Sammie and Edna were honored in 2008 as Old Timer’s of the Wilson County Fair and Grand Marshals of that year’s Fair. Sammie was a member of Greenwood’s Bethel Church of Christ and attended that church his entire 83 years; from birth until death.
